Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-02-18

were 80 busy With the lltile boy thaJ none ]
noticed his absence until the father Of the
child called for his benefactor. They
brought up the runaway and every one
crowded about him 10 praise his courage. |
There was not sign Of light in his face
his eyes were red with bitter crying, and |
his head was bent ON his breast "Ile is /.
in do You not see - the fisherman who /.
owned the boat exclaimed, and took Mon
seur lcbe and carried him back into the |
little cabin
When they brought him to his grand
mother, he was still mute and white
Poor little one, he has had a shock, |
the fisherman said, as he told the old woru- |
an the story of Bebes bravery.
A little bed was made for him on the set
tie near the kitchen hearth, and he lay |
there without making a sound. The next |
night was the night before the great feast,
and at last Bebe slept soundly, 50 soundly |
that his grandmother was frightened As |
had always been the custom, she placed |
the wooden shoes which Bebe wore on the |
table near the fire, that the good fairy |
might put her gifts ia them, and if Bebe
woke he would find everything as it should |
be on this glad festival That deep sleep,
so mercful and kind, which comes to hearts !
worn out by grief, was upon this earnest,
unwearyng little soul, and for the first
time since the accident his poor little face
wore a look of peace aud his lips ceased to
mutter ncohercnt munosyllabes. The fire
on the hearth was Pickering, and the one
candle which was on the shelf overhead
was scarcely bright enough for the grand
mere TO see TO turn the heel of the stock
| ing she was knitting had not the practice
! Of almost half century made it second
nature 10 knit When her heart was torn
with anxieties the good soul would knit to
| keep her nerves firm. When she was gay,
| to knit was an expression Of her happiness.
IN truth, her knitting needles were like
| sympathetic friends, already 10 chime in
vi th any mood.
The needles were drawn more slowly as
| sleep began to creep over the brain of the
| busy kmitter, aud it was with a start she
was aroused by a knock on the door. \
rough looking man. with CHEEKY voice
| greeted her rs She opened to him, and
! handing in a bundle, babe her " Bon sOir,'
and was gone before She could gather her
| wits TO answer him.
THE parcel is heavy. in truth. she said
aloud, as she laid it ON the table. "Ah
and there is music in it," She continued
| opening the bag Of linen in which it was
done up. \ card dropped out ON which
| was inscribed
| For NJ Bebc in gratitude from one who
/ lNf'0 nun Ills fllill = ne IL II u SllENl
| tribute TO the courage and humanity which
indicate much character When the shoes
are worn out, send word to the address ON
the other side Of the card
Aud "a. She turned the card. the aston
| i-hed grand mtr" would have fallen but
that She clutrhed the edge Of the table:
". 10 due .l4,gier, Bouierofd 81. GER
mojt, HHi>.
"Oh Bebe H,a cher petit, the time has
come to wake. Le bot Dieu has surely
sent thee thy wish she exclaimed and
without waiting To examine further into
the bundle She ha,tened toward the settle,
where she could still hear her boy breath
ing measuredly Nor did he wake then to
the good news
Bark she went to the table and poured
the treasure from the bag. There was
pair of shoes made by the best Partisan
boot maker. They We're strong, shapely
and comfortable. and all about them came
juggling shower Of live-franc pieces.
Poor grandmtre, she could hardly stop
10 count them in truth the good soul had
never seen So much money to count before
and she might be pardoned for being lit
| tie hewildered. There on the floor beside
the treasure she fell on her knees giving
thanks for the gifts of bountiful God
But on the ftfe of NOT miracles could sure
Z
the greatest of all miracles was performed.
Truly the good God had answered the pray
ers of a little child There is no knowing
how long the grand mere would have staid
on her knees in thanksgiving had not
cracking log, burned TO its heart, crumb
led and fallen forward in shower of
sparks.
She went to bed that night with her heart
no longer full of anxiety for her boy, but
full of hope instead. for she read Gods will
in this manifestation of his care of Bebe.
The morning rose on the blackened emf
bers in the fireplace The little bare room
was cold. but as the grand mere awoke, she
Jumped as quickly as she could, and set the
two candles which she was TO use TO cele-
brate the ftte of Noel either side of Bebe's
sabot,, which she heaped up with the silver
pieces The Partisan boots she placed
either side with pair of stockings, and IA
little sCapulary inside As her gift.
The fire was soon cracking ioyfully, and
the kettle boiling gleefuly. "Will he sleep
now until all is finished and ready Z" thought
the grandmGr as she spread the little table
with its two bowls and spoons and set the
coffee pot to drip at the corner of the fire.
4 long sigh at last came from the settle,
and Bebes eyes slowly opened. His grand
mere stood beside him in II moment with Il
Nllillt bu llVl WI luAt 0uNi III ultl'lt up lbl
the lack of sunshine without.
"Allis gone, grand'mer gone to the bot
tom of the sea, said a weak little voice
that was 80 different from Bebe's.
He wanders in his mind, mon petit He
has been dreaming of his fathers vessel, -"
said the woman to herself
Look, cheri. look therc-yonder on the
table What is it thou seest there = she
asked of the boy, who without doubt was
awake now, pointing to the table.
My shoes, grand'mere ah it is the
ftte Of Noel and what is it you have put
in them =
your coffee first, cheri, your coffee first
mon petit, for the love of God An empty
stomach is like lead friend it leaves one
in the lurch just at the wrong time.
Bebe would do anything, and drank his
coffee obediently, and then his grand'm6re
brought the wooden shoes proudly to her
boy. She was afraid to show him all the
treasures at once.
There. mon ami that is for being brave !!
five franc pieces every one, and more than
, | could count What wilt thou do with
them all =
; "Grand'm6re, exclaimed the hoy excit-
edly grand 'mtre, they were frame pieces,
and the Bon Dieu has made them five times
greater
All lfNNtff lfffts ilc II l'lt vet ISNoN-
cred" the good woman said, as she looked
at the eager boy lingering his silver.
Miracles, grand mere, can be for us the
I poor as well as the great is it not so y
S Certainly, mon petd was not our bless
5 ed virgin poor like ourselves And look,
my little one, still another miracle - and
% she brought the leather shoes to Bebe with
t the new scapulary and the stockings peep
e ing out from them.
Then it is all dream have not been
o. to Havre ! did not loosen the belt TO save
, myself when | held the drowning boys
; head above the water did not lose all my
l money | bought the leather shoes | am
going
There, mon fis, calm yourself calm
yourself do not talk so excitedly. Your
fortune is made. Rest in peace and thank
Il the good God for these bountiful gifts on
the blessed f6te of Noel.
At last, when Monsieur Bebe got well he
heard the whole story of the great mans
+ gratitude to little boy but the good
IS grand'm6re did not so willingly take in the
!, whole meaning of the good fortune which
Il had come TO her Bebe for the money
e meant school in Paris, and Paris to her
r. meant Paradise where the serpent haC
not vet been expelled She would hav,
81 sooner cut off her right hand than 10 have
i interfered with such a miracle as had mad,
her boy the peer of the sons of great men
" for it was the will of God,
If The end has not yet come TO Bebe but
II why should such high hopes have beer
/ born in the heart of such AN innocent an'
4 humble boy if it be not written in the bool